What are the implications for children and their caregivers when access to play spaces is limited?
early childhood education
Excerpt: Light side, dark side: Hiding in the shadows of technology
Lightweb Darkweb: Three Reasons to Reform Social Media Before it Re-Forms Us
(Homeland Press,
2013;
$15.95)
The following is an excerpt from the preface of the new book Lightweb Darkweb: Three Reasons To Reform Social Media Before It Re-Forms Us by acclaimed children's singer Raffi Cavoukian, which is a critical response to the suicide of Vancouver teen Amanda Todd after years of online harassment and calls for the reform of social media in the areas of safety, intelligence and sustainability.
A level playing field: The commodification of play
In the city of Toronto, one of the options for play is a kid-friendly coffee shop that offers a play area. Let's call it "FunSpot." When I first heard of FunSpot I thought, "What a great idea." But then I discovered that, on top of the premium cost of your hot beverage, there is a fee to access the toys, the little slide, and the rubber mats -- all of it cordoned off from the coffee bar by a friendly-looking little gate. FunSpot functions almost like an indoor park, which is fantastic in the winter months, especially if your child is too young to skate or can't even walk. But do not mistake this for a public space.
